Combined wire-stretcher and wagon-jack.



Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

EDWARD BOYES, OF RALSTON, IOWA.

COMBINED WIRE-STRETCHER AND WAGON -J ACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1.908.

i Application `iiled May 5, 1908. Serial No. 431,726.

To all whom 'it may concer/n: Y l

Be it known that I, EDWARD G. BOXES, av citizen of the United States,residing at Ralston in the county of Carroll and lState of Iowa, haveinvented a new and useful Combined Wire-Stretcher and Wagon-J ack, vofwhich the following is a specification.,

The object of this invention is tofprovide' an improved combinationtoolsusceptible of use as a lifting jack and` also as a wire stretcher ortightener. V n j A further object of thisinvention is to provideimproved means for attaching a wire stretcher to a post.

A further object of this invention is to provide improveddetachablemeans for attaching a wire stretcher to a post. Y j

A further obj ect of this invention is to provide improved means fordisconnecting and removing post-attaching devices preliminary to the useof the tool as a lifting jack.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combinationof elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims andillustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a sideelevation of the improved device in the position requiredfor use as alifting jack. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device in positionrequired for use as a wire stretcher, one end portion of one of themembers being attached to a post, and a portion of the casing brokenaway to reveal the interior construction. Fig. 3 is a detailcross-section illustrating the construction of various elements. y

In the construction of the device as illustrated in Fig. 1, the numeral10 designates aV tubular standard formed with a base or foot 11. A jack-stem 12 is mounted within and arranged for reciprocation relative tothe tubular standard 10. The jack-stem 12 preferably is annular incross-section, while the standard 10 is circular in cross-section, andopposite sides of said stem are formed with notches or ratchet teeth. Ahead 13 is formed on the jack-stem 12 outside of the standard 10.

A bifurcated lever 14 is mounted on the stem 10 and is fulcrumedthereto` by means of rivets or bolts 15, 16 extending through oppositearms of said lever, and also extending through the standard 10 atdiametrically opposite points. Lever pawls 17, 18 are fulcrumed in thebifurcated portion of the lever 14 and on opposite sides of the stem bymeans of pins 19, 20 extending through said lever andthrough the pawls.The pins 19, 20 are parallel with the axis of oscillation of the lever14. Upper end portions of the lever pawls 17, 18 are turned inwardlytoward and are adapted to engage the ratchet teeth or notches in thefaces of the jack-stem 12. The lower end portions or arms of the leverpawls 17 18 are curved outwardly relative to the longitudinal trend ofthe standard` 10,

and leaf springs 21, 22 are mounted on the extremities thereof andimpinge opposite sides of the standard. A clevis 23 embraces thejack-stem 12 and is pivoted thereto adjacent the head 13. The clevis 23is adapted to swing across the head 13 in either direction. A chain 24is attached at one end to the clevis 23 and preferably terminated in ahook 25. The chain 24 and hook 25 may be employed to attach thejack-stem to a post. A wire clamp or gripping device 26 is mountedpivotally on the clevis 23 and is adapted to grip a fence wire andattach the same to the jack-stem when desired. A wire clamp or grippingdevice 27 is mounted on the standard 10 adjacent the lever 14 and isadapted to grip'a fence wire and attach the standard thereto whendesired.

An eye 28 is formed on the lower end portion of the jack-stem 12 and arod 29 is provided and is formed with a hook 30 detachably engaging theeye 28. The hook 30 is adapted to be engaged with the eye 28 when saideye projects outside the base end portion of the tubular standard 10,and thereafter said hook and eye may slide within the tubular standard.A chain 31 is attached to the outer end portion of the rod 29 andis-adapted to connect said rod to a post 32 when desired.` A wiregripping device 33 also is attached to the rod 29 and is adapted `togrip a wire and secure the same -to said rod when desired.

When it is desired to employ this device as a lifting jack, such as maybe used for lifting wagon` axles for the removal of `wheels therefrom,and commonly known as a wagon jack, the parts are assembled and adjustedas shown in Fig. 1, with the head 13 of the jack-stem 12 beneath an axleor other device to be lifted. The lever 14 then is manipulated to causethe pawls 17, 18 successively to engage ratchet teeth and lift `thejack-stem 12 and head 13 and the load thereon to the desired elevation.The loading stem may be lowered by alternately compressing the levers17, 18 toward the standard 10, and letting the device down notch bynotch. Or both of said levers may be compressed and the load be allowedto descend abruptly if desired.

When it is desired to employ this device as a stretching mechanism, oneof the chains 211, 31 is attached to a post, such as 32, and then afence Wire or other device to be stretched is engaged by one or theother of the gripping devices. When the chain 24 is attached to a post,the grip device 27 is employed to engage the article to be stretched Itis to be understood that the rod 29 is unhooked from the eye 28 When thedevice is employed as a lifting jack. When used as a stretchingmechanism, the stretching force is applied by moving the j ack-stem 12longitudinally of the standard 10 through manipulation of the lever 141and consequent step-bystep operation of the pavvls 17, 18.

spring-pressed paWls on said lever engaging said stem, a gripping deviceflexibly connected to said stem, a gripping device connected to saidstandard, a rod detacliably connected to said stein, and a grip deviceand chain flexibly connected to said rod.

EDARD G. BOYES. Witnesses E. M. BLAGKLEY, G. W. VVooD, Jr.

